The ASEAN Tourism Investment Forum opened in Ho Chi Minh City on Sept. 29 under the theme of challenges and opportunities for investment in ASEAN tourism sector.

The forum drew around 250 government officials as well as representatives from international and ASEAN companies and organisations.

Debates at the forum focus on ASEAN tourism investment framework, opportunities and incentives for tourism investment in ASEAN countries, and potential tourism areas for investment in those countries.

Addressing the forum, Vietnamese Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh said that tourism has played an important role in promoting socio-economic development in ASEAN countries in the past years.

He affirmed that the Vietnamese government creates favourable conditions to encourage domestic and international investors to increase investment in tourism.

On behalf of the ASEAN Secretariat, Somsak Pipoppinyo spoke highly of the accomplishments of ASEAN tourism sector in the past few years, which helped promote growth and promote the image of ASEAN to the world community.

In 2009, ASEAN as a whole welcomed over 62 million visitors, up 59.7 percent over 2000despite impacts of the global economic crisis./.